Mets Trade Alomar to White Sox

Roberto Alomar's disappointing stay with the New York Mets ended Tuesday when the 12-time All-Star second baseman was traded to the Chicago White Sox for three minor league prospects.

In exchange for Alomar, the Mets received pitchers Royce Ring and Edwin Almonte and infielder Andrew Salvo.

The trade marks the beginning of a long-expected makeover of the Mets. The team is in last place for the second straight season despite having a $116.9 million payroll on opening day, the second highest in baseball.

Alomar was at the center of much of the failure.

"Sometimes, it doesn't work for you," he said. "Sometimes, you play good in some places and other places you don't play up to your potential. I'm really sad I have to leave New York on these terms, but I have to move on and go to a place where I have a chance to win."

"It gives us an experienced, battle-tested veteran that has proven he can withstand a pennant race and play big in big games," Williams said.

The White Sox made another trade hours later, reaching agreement with Texas to acquire outfielder Carl Everett for two or three minor leaguers, a baseball source with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press.

The White Sox will also receive cash from Texas to offset part of Everett's $9.15 million contract. Everett began the day hitting .274 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs and is eligible to become a free agent after the season.

Chicago beat Minnesota 6-1 Tuesday night, knocking the Twins out of the AL Central lead. Despite being only 41-42, the White Sox are just three games behind division-leading Kansas City.

The Alomar deal was the first completed by Mets interim general manager Jim Duquette, who took over when Steve Phillips was fired June 12.

Duquette said Ring, a 22-year-old left-hander with 19 saves and a 2.52 ERA at Double-A Birmingham, was the player the Mets wanted. He was Chicago's first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft and is known for a strong mound presence.

Alomar, 35, is in the final season of a contract that pays him $8 million. He came to New York in an eight-player trade with Cleveland after batting .336 with 20 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Indians in 2001.

But the 10-time Gold Glove winner, considered a future Hall of Famer, never got untracked in New York. He batted just .266 last season, matching a career low set in his rookie season of 1988, and was hitting .262 when the trade to Chicago was made.

He was often targeted by fans in New York for what seemed like halfhearted play and he appeared to be a shell of the player who hit .313 in 11 AL seasons with Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland after his first three major league seasons with the San Diego Padres.

"I felt real comfortable in New York," he said. "It's a great city, a great atmosphere. The team maybe, I didn't really feel comfortable with the situation. Sometimes teams don't work for you. I think the New York Mets weren't the right team for me."

Mets infielder Rey Sanchez, activated from the disabled list before the Mets' 7-6 win over Montreal on Tuesday night, couldn't explain Alomar's struggles in New York.

"As much as you talk to somebody you really don't know what's going through his mind," Sanchez said. "This game is kind of strange and funny that way. You play well so many years and all of a sudden you can't put it together."

The trade reunites Alomar with his brother, Sandy, who signed as a free agent catcher with the White Sox before this season. As part of the deal, the Mets agreed to pay $3.75 million of the remainder of Alomar's contract with the White Sox paying $150,000, the prorated share of the major league minimum.

The Mets housecleaning could move next to reliever Armando Benitez, another frequent fan target, and outfielder Jeromy Burnitz. Both are in the final years of high-priced contracts.

"I don't have any pressure to make more deals," Duquette said. "I didn't have any pressure to move Alomar. I think we'll sit back and regroup and figure out if there's anything else."

Ring was asleep at the team hotel in Huntsville, Ala., when Birmingham manager and former Mets star Wally Backman left a message that he'd been traded.

"It's just weird. I thought he was kidding at first," Ring said. "I'm in my first full year of pro ball, and you don't expect to be going somewhere."

Almonte, a right-hander, was 2-6 with 14 saves and a 6.88 ERA in 30 games at Triple-A Charlotte. Salvo, 23, has split the season between Class A Kannapolis and Class A Winston-Salem, hitting .223 with one home run and six RBIs in 42 games.